About Annie’s Hope

Mission Statement

To provide comprehensive support services to children, teens and their families who are grieving the death of someone significant.

Vision

To establish and maintain the most comprehensive bereavement center focused solely on the needs of grieving children, adolescents and their families in St. Louis and the surrounding communities. 

Background Information

It is estimated that 73,000 children die every year in the United States.  Of those children, 83% have surviving siblings.  Based on figures from the Bureau of Vital Statistics 2001 data, in St. Louis County and City, there were approximately 1,180 children and adolescents under the age of 18 who died in Missouri.  That means there are at least 979 grieving siblings in our neighborhoods.  In addition, research reveals that up to 1 in 6 children will have a parent die by the time they reach their 18th birthday.  Data from the 2001 U.S. Census Report reveals that in St. Louis City and County combined there are 339,277 children and teens.  Of those, 54,284 of them will grieve the death of a parent.  On average, there are 3,106 kids newly bereaved every year.  Altogether, in any given year, we can expect 3,995 kids under the age of eighteen will be newly bereaved due to a sibling’s or parent’s death.  The numbers are astounding.

Columbia University conducted a study that indicated that children who do not have the opportunity to mourn the loss of a parent can suffer negative effects such as depression, behavior problems, poor school performance, and low self-esteem.  Further research  found that siblings who experienced the death of a sibling had higher levels of behavior problems and significantly lower social competence in comparison to unaffected children.  Childhood trauma that is not addressed can be carried into adulthood and can be manifested in a variety of destructive ways including drug/alcohol problems, relationship failures, and psychiatric disorders

History

Annie’s Hope - The Bereavement Center for Kids has been the dream of the founder, Becky Byrne, for over 17 years.  The non-profit organization, formerly The St. Louis Bereavement Center for Young People, was formed December 19, 1997 with federally recognized, tax exempt status awarded March 19, 1998.  The founding board members were Melissa McCartie, Ken Abendschein & Becky Byrne.  The logo concept was a gift from Ken Abendschein but was perfected by a Graphic Designer, Steve Slais for The St. Louis Bereavement Center for Young People and later by Jen Hahn of Paper Lime for Annie’s Hope.  The logo’s design inspired a variety of images including the representation of the flower as an individual losing a part of themselves to a school losing a faculty member.  The fallen petal has been seen as cradled in the love and care of others to cradled in the support and compassion that Annie’s Hope offers.  

Services began with family support groups in the early Spring of 1998 and has developed into the list of programs and services below.  The major event that took place in 1999 was the establishment of Camp Courage.  For the first year, the camp was a weekend experience for 56 kids.  Since 2000, the camp has been a week long, overnight experience and has an attendance of over 90 campers.  In the first year of Annie’s Hope’s existence, approximately 50 families were supported in some fashion while in 2002 that number had increased to almost 400.  October 2001, the first employee, a part time Operations Manager, Kay Walsh, was hired. 

Annie’s Hope’s approach is very family centered due to the fact that children and teens do not exist outside their family.  “Family” constitutes of all those persons who support and care for the grieving child.  There is no cost to the grieving families for involvement.  There is no affiliation with a religious group, health care system or any other entity.  Existing for all grieving families who seek our support, regardless of race, ethnicity, and financial situation, is fundamental to our mission. 

Support Programs/Services:

• Support Groups for Kids and Adults
• Teen Retreats
• Camp Courage
• Family Social Events
• School Support & Education,
• Hope & Healing Holiday Gathering
• Horizons
• Community Resource Library
• Speakers Institute
• Grief Community Referral Service

• Children grieve.
• Education and support can assist children and their families through the grieving process.
• Everyone grieves in his/her own, unique way.
• There is no right or wrong way to grieve unless it harms self or others.
• Death and dying are subjects not easily addressed.
• How to cope with death, dying and bereavement in a healthy manner can be learned.  A strong foundation of knowledge, confidence and hope will help the individual adapt to future losses.
• Children and teens have the ability to heal themselves, especially if given love and support.
• Group settings are conducive to the grieving process for many children, adolescents, and adults.
• One never gets “over” the death of someone they love, but instead, learns to live with the loss.  Grief is a lifelong process, whereby a new, revised relationship with the deceased is established.
• In one way or another, realized or not, the impact of losses eventually will surface.

For questions or comments, please Annie’s Hope at 314-965-5015 (Office), 314-918-1438 (Fax), annieshopekids@aol.com (E-Mail Address), or www.annieshope.org (Web Site).